Have you ever been in that weird in-between spot where you are in holiday mode but still have work but want the year to be over for a reset but still need to process the happenings of the previous 12 months? Of course you have, and many of us have been in that exact spot! In this episode we take a proactive approach to making 2026 just that much better with 5 steps you can start today!

Resources:

https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-to-stop-ruminating-on-the-past#rumination-vs-obsession

In this episode, we dive into the concept of burnout. Burnout has turned into a massive industry buzzword and quite frankly, its mostly misused. Additionally, the solutions that have been given to beat burnout are often addressing something that isn't getting to the root of the problem. Give this episode a listen to see where you stand on the topic!

Resources

https://news.mit.edu/2024/most-work-is-new-work-us-census-data-shows-0401

https://mhanational.org/resources/burnout-signs-causes-recover/

Screening For Depression vs Burnout with Mental Health America

Listen in to this week's episode with Katrina Sanders as she explains when a patient TRULY needs scaling and root planing!

Resources:

More Fast Facts: https://www.ataleoftwohygienists.com/fast-facts/ Katrina Sanders Website: https://www.katrinasanders.com Katrina Sanders Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedentalwinegenist/

In this thought-provoking episode, Tim Ives joins the show for an in-depth conversation on the evolving role of dental hygienists, the ongoing challenges in oral health, and the importance of behavior change and communication in achieving better patient outcomes. The discussion delves into dental education, interprofessional collaboration, measuring success in hygiene, and innovative ideas for the profession's future, such as independent hygiene practices and high street outreach.

• Defining the Role of the Dental Hygienist: Tim Ives challenges listeners to rethink the traditional image of the hygienist and advocates for a broader understanding among patients, dentists, and hygienists themselves.

• Barriers to Change in Dental Health: Discussion on why oral diseases like dental caries and periodontal disease remain prevalent and the systemic issues preventing progress.

• Measuring Success in Hygiene: How hygienists can (and should) measure patient health outcomes, and why communication and behavior change skills should be prioritized.

• Business vs. Healthcare: The difficulties in balancing profitability and genuine health care—especially in corporate/group practice settings.

• Ideas for the Future: Envisioning hygienists as independent professionals on the high street, specialists in behavioral change, and as accessible advisors to the public.

• Education Pathways and Research: Insight into the innovative programs at O'Hehir University, including international bachelor's and master's degrees for dental hygienists, and the recently launched journal publishing condensed (400-word) research papers.

• Behavioral Change & Stress in Oral Health: Exploring newer research that ties socioeconomic status, stress, and cortisol to dental caries risk, and the need to address systemic social issues to truly improve health.

• Professionalism & Interprofessional Education: The impact of UK programs where hygienists and dentists are trained side by side, and how this fosters professionalism and teamwork.

• Direct Access & Practice Ownership: How changes in UK policy now allow hygienists to own practices, employ dentists, and offer direct patient access.

• Personal Reflections: Tim Ives shares his candid views on career development and success, plus a fun closing discussion on football and Wrexham's promotion odds.

• 6-month Bachelor's program — open globally to licensed dental hygienists

• 18-month Master's program — focused on oral health promotion, leadership, and research

• New journal featuring concise, practice-relevant research summaries

• Email: [email protected]

• O'Hehir University Website: https://ohehiruniversity.org/

• For more information about O'Hehir University or to reach

  Tim Ives

  • Email: [email protected]

Huge thanks to Tim Ives for his insights and dedication to the profession, and to all listeners for supporting these important conversations that help shape the future of dental hygiene.

• Subscribe to A Tale of Two Hygienists on your favorite podcast platform

• Follow on social media

• Sign up for the newsletter

Thanks for tuning in!

Episode Overview

This episode is a recording of a CE-Caliber presentation led by Tanya Dunlap, Vice President of Clinical and Business Development, and research liaison for Perio Protect.

Key Topics Covered

• Chronic Oral Infections & Systemic Health: Tanya Dunlap explains why chronic oral infections are not just a local problem, but can affect overall health—especially for patients with conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more.

• Prescription Tray Therapy Explained: Learn the science behind Perio Protect's periodontal medicament carrier trays—how they deliver low-concentration hydrogen peroxide deep into periodontal pockets to fight infection and improve gum health.

• Case Studies & Clinical Outcomes: See real-world examples of patients who used Perio Protect, including those with crowns, implants, advanced periodontal disease, and systemic health concerns. Hear about measurable reductions in bleeding, improved gum scores, and even systemic improvements in markers like hemoglobin A1c.

• Impact on Restorations & Implants: Tanya Dunlap discusses how Perio Protect can help maintain the longevity of crowns and implants, prevent peri-implant mucositis, and support healthy tissue around restorations.

• Patient Communication & Compliance: Tips for presenting the treatment in a way patients can understand, including how to use the "gum score" as an objective health metric. Strategies for boosting patient commitment and overcoming common objections.

• Safety, Usage, and Cost: Answers to audience questions on sensitivity, safety of low-concentration peroxide, compatibility with other dental products, recommended usage duration, and the typical costs for trays and gel.

• Insurance & Coding: Insights into dental insurance coverage for Perio Protect, recommended CDT codes, and how to handle FSA/HSA payments for patients.

Featured Speakers

• Tanya Dunlap

Resources & Links

• For more information, visit Perio Protect's website or check out their research at periprotect.com/research.

• You can also find additional patient-facing materials and educational brochures mentioned in the episode.

Takeaways Whether you're a dental professional looking to improve patient outcomes, or just curious about the link between oral and systemic health, this episode is packed with actionable insights and practical tips. Hear audience questions answered live, learn how Perio Protect fits into comprehensive care plans, and see how this adjunctive therapy can elevate your clinical results.

Connect Don't miss out on future updates—follow A Tale of Two Hygienists, subscribe, and sign up for the newsletter!

If you have further questions or want access to slides or studies mentioned, be sure to contact Tanya Dunlap directly via the contact information provided in the episode.

Thank you for listening!

Welcome back to another insightful episode of A Tale of Two Hygienists! This week, Andrew Johnston is joined by none other than Dr. Alan Mead—podcaster, dentist, mentor, and community builder. Dr. Mead shares how the dental podcasting landscape has evolved over the years, what it takes to maintain endurance in dentistry, and how the profession continues to change.

Highlights from This Episode:

• Podcasting Roots & Mentorship: Andrew Johnston credits Dr. Alan Mead as the reason this very podcast exists, touching on early Facebook communities, learning tech, and the supportive culture of dental podcasters.

• CE, Learning, and Growth: Dr. Mead discusses his experience at recent Bioclear courses, the tendency to fall back into comfortable habits, and the challenges of integrating new techniques into everyday practice.

• The Changing Face of Dental Podcasting: The conversation covers the shift from traditional audio podcasts to video and social-focused content, the pros and cons of new tools, and how AI is changing audio editing and show notes.

• Dentistry Over the Years: Reflections on what's changed in the profession, from new grads facing massive debt, to decreasing engagement on platforms like Facebook, and the difference in career expectations from Dr. Mead's early days to now.

• Advice for New Podcasters: Dr. Mead offers sage advice for anyone starting a podcast: don't obsess over download numbers, focus on genuine engagement and conversation, make your show personal and relatable, and always prioritize the audience's needs.

• Looking Ahead – The Future of Dentistry: Thoughtful (and candid) takes on whether Dr. Mead would encourage a new grad to enter the profession, the importance of finding fulfillment outside of work, and how impermanence—among both dental staff and patients—might affect long-term patient relationships.

Voices of Dentistry Podcast and Event

Dr. Alan Mead also talks about the return of the Voices of Dentistry conference—a unique gathering for dental podcasters, listeners, and anyone interested in the dental podcasting community.

• Voices of Dentistry 2026

  Dates: January 16th and 17th, 2026

  Location: Implant Pathway, Arizona

  Details & Tickets: Voices of Dentistry website

  Note: Limited tickets due to fire codes! This is an intimate event with great speakers and loads of podcasters—not to be missed if you're a fan of dental podcasts.

You can also check out the Voices of Dentistry Podcast for discussions with some of the biggest names in dental podcasting.

Connect with Us:

• Follow and engage on social media!

• Don't forget to subscribe and sign up for our newsletter via our website.

Thank You for Listening! If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving a review and sharing with a friend. Have thoughts or want to connect? Reach out to the show or join the discussion on Facebook.

This episode is a production of Endeavor Business Media.

Episode Summary: This tipisode from "A Tale of Two Hygienists" features Dr. Sadie, a periodontist from Maryland, sharing insights on the implementation of Perio Protect in her multi-specialty practice. Hosted by Tanya Dunlap, the conversation delves into the evolution of Perio Protect's role in patient care, how its usage has expanded across multiple locations, and the impact on patients' outcomes and retention.

**In Partnership with PerioProtect visit http://www.Perioprotect.com

Key Topics Discussed:

• Introduction to Perio Protect: How Dr. Sadie was introduced to Perio Protect and her initial experiences after a colleague recommended it in 2018.

• Implementing Perio Protect: Transition from selective case usage to a comprehensive protocol adopted across five practice locations.

• Benefits and Expanded Applications: Improvements in patient outcomes such as reduced bleeding, better pocket depths, and successful management of difficult cases (like unknown gum etiologies and patients on seizure medications).

• Patient Motivation and Maintenance: Discussion on how seeing improvements with Perio Protect motivates patients to maintain better oral hygiene, leading to long-term gum health and even saving teeth from extraction.

• Use with Implant Patients: Evolution from using Perio Protect only for cases of peri-implantitis to proactively recommending it for all implant maintenance.

• Case Presentation Tips: Dr. Sadie shares strategies to introduce Perio Protect to patients—including using testimonial videos and explaining the science behind hydrogen peroxide as an adjunctive tool.

Notable Quotes:

• "I thought it was just for scaling and root planings, maybe just hygiene patients. But as I started seeing positive results...I started implementing it for all my perio patients." —

  Dr. Sadie

• "It's motivating...for the patients to see that." —

  Dr. Sadie

• "The hardest part for clinicians who are just getting started with Perio Protect is case presentation."

Action Items for Listeners:

• Consider how adjunctive therapy like Perio Protect can enhance your workflow and patient outcomes.

• Use patient testimonials and clear explanations to boost case acceptance.

• Subscribe and visit the podcast website for more tips and updates!

Connect With Us: Follow the Podcast and guests on social media, subscribe for updates, and sign up for the newsletter at the podcast website!

Production Credits: A Tale of Two Hygienists, brought to you by Endeavor Business Media.

Thanks for tuning in! Don't forget to subscribe and join us for the next tipisode.

In this episode, Andrew Johnston welcomes long-time friend and hygiene industry leader Sarah Thiel back to the show. As one of Andrew's final episodes, the two reflect on their years of friendship, the evolution of dental industry networking, and the incredible journey and impact of CE Zoom—Sarah's unique platform for tracking and managing continuing education (CE) requirements across all 50 states.

Listeners get an inside look at how Sarah Thiel and her team keep up with the constantly shifting requirements of CE, the challenges of regulatory compliance, and what it means to truly support clinicians in their licensing journeys. The episode also explores hot topics in dental CE—including oral pathology, vaping, local anesthesia, substance abuse, and perio trends—plus stories from the frontlines of regulatory changes and audits.

• The Evolution of CE Zoom:

  Sarah Thiel

  shares how CE Zoom went from a simple CE tracker to a comprehensive platform serving every dental license type and, now, other industries requiring CE.

• Navigating Audits & Regulations: Hear how CE requirements are more complex than most professionals realize, and why real-time tracking and board-specific courses matter.

• Networking & Relationship Building:

  Sarah Thiel

  talks about the authentic approach to networking—why helping others comes first, and how most of her professional connections (and successful matchmaking) happen in relaxed, informal settings.

• Hot Topics in CE: The episode spotlights recent and perennial favorite courses among dental professionals—oral pathology, vaping, local anesthesia updates, substance abuse, perio, and instrumentation.

• Behind the Scenes Managing Compliance: The intricate process of following every dental board's changes—thanks to Sarah's team, especially Melissa, who attends and reviews every board meeting to keep users ahead of the curve.

• Stories from the Field: Listen for a cautionary tale about regulatory changes and how CE Zoom went to bat for a clinician caught in a timing loophole—highlighting why trusting experts matters.

• "You don't know what you don't know... until you're audited and realize the rules have changed." –

  Sarah Thiel

• "Sarah's made that crossover from dental friend to real-life friend." –

  Andrew Johnston

• "I just love meeting people and figuring out ways to help them—business comes after." –

  Sarah Thiel

• "The dental boards don't care if you almost met the requirements—you have to get it exactly right." –

  Sarah Thiel

• CE Zoom: cezoom.com

• Contact Sarah & the Team: Email [email protected] for questions or support.

• A Tale of Two Hygienists: Stay updated by following the show on social media and subscribing to the newsletter.

Thanks for tuning in! Subscribe for more insightful conversations and updates as the podcast transitions to its next era.

Episode Summary: In this special bonus episode brought to you in partnership with TheraBreath, Andrew Johnston sits down with Melissa Calhoun for an in-depth discussion about all things toothpaste—why it's more than just a routine product, how active ingredients play a crucial role, and why switching up your toothpaste based on patient needs really matters. They dive into the evidence-based approach to oral hygiene recommendations, spotlighting TheraBreath's new line of toothpastes and what sets them apart.

What You'll Learn:

• Why toothpaste is a "powerful prescription" we don't need to write

• The importance of asking patients about what toothpaste they use

• Key active ingredients in toothpaste and how they help with sensitivity, caries, and overall oral health

• Why flavors matter and the growing trend for milder toothpastes

  Melissa Calhoun's dental hygiene education and professional background

• A deep dive into TheraBreath's new toothpaste lineup: Healthy Gums, Deep Clean, and Whitening

• How TheraBreath products pair well together and why they're beneficial for a wide range of patients

Mentioned in this episode:

• TheraBreath's widely loved mouth rinses and new toothpaste formulas

• Free sample program: Visit hygienesquad.com/therabreath to sign up for samples for your office

• CE resources on toothpaste ingredients from Church & Dwight

Special Thanks: Thanks to TheraBreath for making this episode possible. Big shoutout to Melissa Calhoun for sharing her expertise and passion for oral health.

Connect with Us: Follow, subscribe, and share your feedback! Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter on the website

In this engaging throwback episode, Andrew and guest co-host Brittany catch up with Dr. James Younger to talk all things temping in the dentistry. As temping continues to grow in popularity, especially following shifts during the pandemic, this episode is a practical guide and deep dive for early-career professionals and anyone considering a more flexible career path in dentistry.

• Why Temping is Growing:

  James Younger

  discusses how both new grads and seasoned professionals are increasingly choosing temp shifts for flexibility, empowerment, and financial reasons.

• Finding Your "Work Home": The importance of prioritizing workplace culture and respect over purely financial incentives.

• Transparency in Temping: TempStars' unique system provides office reviews, equipment ratings, and infection control compliance, so temps know exactly what they're walking into.

• Regional Trends: A look at how temping, demand, and office culture differ from state to state and between the US and Canada.

• Dental Assistants & Hygienists: Debunking the myth that temp assistants are less committed, and how temping is becoming a lifestyle choice for many.

• Expanded Functions & Office Matching: Updates on TempStars' expansion into the US and how technology is improving matches between offices and dental professionals based on detailed qualifications.

• Impact of AI: The potential for artificial intelligence in making better matches and improving dental workflows.

• Advice to New Grads: Why gaining a broad perspective by temping early in your career helps you find the right office fit without long-term limitations or strings attached.

• James Younger

  shares data-backed insights on what offices are doing to create better environments—and how TempStars uses reviews to ensure transparency and quality.

• Recommendations for graduates on how to explore multiple offices and make informed decisions about where to settle, with no exclusivity or hidden costs.

• Lively discussion about the evolution of infectious control protocols post-COVID and their ongoing importance.

• Explore TempStars: tempstars.com – Free for professionals to sign up and start browsing opportunities.

• Don't miss previous tipisodes with Dr.

  James Younger

  : Topics include temping done right, how to request a raise, permission-based care, and unique pathways in dental careers.

"You have to be cautious about chasing just the next dollar. Life is too short." – James Younger

"There's a proper way to treat people, and that's aligned now with good business for keeping and retaining great team members." – James Younger

Interested in temping or finding your perfect dental work home? Check out TempStars and connect with thousands of offices and professionals nationwide.

Don't forget to visit RDH Under One Roof (rdhunderoneroof.com) for networking and education in dental hygiene!

Thanks for listening! Share this episode with a friend who might be considering a new path in dentistry, and tune in next week for more great conversations.